US diplomat: Draft on Israel-Palestinian deal soon

JERUSALEM (AP) -- The U.S. ambassador to Israel says a framework proposal on all issues at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will be presented to both sides soon.

Dan Shapiro told Israel Radio on Tuesday that the proposal will include security arrangements, borders, Jerusalem and all the other "core issues."

He said it will be presented to the Israelis and the Palestinians in a few weeks' time.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has been visiting the region often since talks resumed last July, shuttling between Israel and Palestinian leaders to mediate talks.

Kerry has been pushing for the outlines of a peace deal. He is trying to nudge Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu closer to a peace pact that would establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel.